PRESS BOX.

Klitschko steps up to fight Lewis

June 10, 2003|By Michael Hirsley.

Heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has been playing musical chairs with possible opponents for a June 21 title defense. If the music finally stopped for good Monday, his challenger will be Vitali Klitschko.

Kirk Johnson was supposed to face Lewis in the main event at Los Angeles' Staples Center, with Klitschko fighting Cedric Boswell on the undercard. But when Johnson dropped out last week, saying he tore a chest muscle in training, Lewis opted to face Klitschko.

It seems a logical substitution since both fighters are well into training for that date and Klitschko is the top contender of the World Boxing Council, whose title belt Lewis holds.